"Garcia-Williams skillfully finds melody in words. "Garcia-Williams skillfully finds melody in words." -Booklist (starred review) "An appealing, realistic story with frequent elegant turns of phrase." -The Horn Book (starred review) Rita Williams-Garcia is the bestselling author of picture books for young readers and novels for young adults and middle grade readers including Clayton Byrd Goes Underground and her trilogy about the Gaither sisters ( One Crazy Summer, PS Be Eleven, and Gone Crazy in Alabama ).
"Strong characterizations and vivid musical scenes add layers to this warm family story." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "This complex tale of family and forgiveness has heart." -School Library Journal (starred review) "This slim novel strikes a strong chord."-Publishers Weekly (starred review) National Book Award Finalist * Kirkus Best Books of 2017 * Horn Book Best Books of 2017 * Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2017 * School Library Journal Best Books of 2017 * NAACP Image Awards Youth/Teens Winner * Chicago Public Library Best Books * Boston Globe Best Books of 2017 But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him. And Clayton knows that's no way to live.Īrmed with his grandfather's brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road.
Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton's mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. If blues legend Big Mama Willie Mae Thornton was still with us, it would be a tie between the two.From beloved Newbery Honor winner and three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Rita Williams-Garcia comes a powerful and heartfelt novel about loss, family, and love that will appeal to fans of Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander.Ĭlayton feels most alive when he's with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen-he can't wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. Fresh for sure! His beatboxing and harp playing kicked off the adventure. Who do you most wish would read your book?ĭoug E.
In the book, young Clayton learns about the blues from his grandfather, but when his grandfather dies and his mother forbids him to play, Clayton must head out on his own to seek the Bluesmen. Literary Hub asked Rita a few questions about her book, her process, and her life as a writer. Rita Williams-Garcia’s Clayton Byrd Goes Underground (Amistad / HarperCollins Publishers) is a finalist for the 2017 National Book Award in Young People’s Literature. In preparation for the ceremony, and to celebrate all of the wonderful books and authors nominated for the awards this year, Literary Hub will be sharing short interviews with each of the finalists in all four categories: Young People’s Literature, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Fiction. The 2017 National Book Awards (also known as the Oscars of the literary world), will be held on November 15th in New York City.
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